Beta 2.7.x is available in seperate branch.
Included in this branch: the first beta of grottserver which can act as destination for inverter/datalogger data. This will remove need to cummunicate with internet. See discussions (#98) for more information: johanmeijer#98).
The beta branche is available at: https://github.com/johanmeijer/grott/tree/2.7-(Beta)
Growatt inverters can send performance and status metrics (log data) to the Growatt company servers. The inverters rely on either a ShineWIFI module or a ShineLAN box to relay the data to Growatt. The metrics stored on the Growatt servers then can be viewed on the Growatt website or using the ShinePhone mobile app.
The purpose of Grott is to read, parse and forward the raw metrics as they are sent to Growatt servers. This means other applications can consume the raw Growatt metrics without relying on the Growatt API and servers and without delay.
Grott can intercept the inverter metrics in two distinct modes:
- Proxy mode (man in the middle): The Growatt ShineWifi or ShineLAN box can be easily configured to use Grott as an alternative server to the default server.growatt.com. Grott then acts as a relay to the Growatt servers. Grott reads the transmitted data, and then forwards the data to server.grott.com.
- Sniff mode (original connection): Can be used if your router is linux based. IPTables NAT masquerading is used in conjuction with a python packet sniffer to read the data. (This is more resource intensive on the linux host).
Grott can forward the parsed metrics to:
- MQTT (suggested option for many home automation systems such as Home Assistant, OpenHAB and Domoticz)
- InfluxDB v1 and v2 (a time series database with dashboarding functionality)
- PVOutput.org (a service for sharing and comparing PV output data)
- Custom output using the extension functionality (Examples available for Export to CSV files and writing to a Http Server).
The program is written in python and runs under Linux, Windows. It can run:
- Interactive from the command line interface
- As a Linux or Windows service
- As a Docker container.
And is tested, but not limited to, inverter models:
- 1500-S (ShineWiFi)
- 3000-S (Shinelan)
- 2500-MTL-S (ShineWiFi)
- 4200-MTL-S (Shinelan)
- 5000TL-X (ShineWifi-X)
- 3600TL-XE (ShineLink-X)
- 3600TL-XE (ShineLan)
- MOD 5000TL3-X* (ShineLan)
- MOD 9000TL3-X*
*Experimental in latest 2.6 branch
The Docker images are tested RPI(arm32), Ubuntu and Synology NAS
If Grott is running in proxy mode the ShineLAN box or ShineWIFI module needs to be configured to send data to Grott instead of the Growatt server API. Please see the Wiki for further information and installation details.
see issue #81/#82/#85: add invtype=tl3 in grott.ini [Generic] section (or use ginvtype="tl3" environmental variable e.g. for docker ledidome/grott:2.6.1f)
see issue #42/#46: add invtype=spf in grott.ini [Generic] section (or use ginvtype=spf environmental variable e.g. for docker)
see issue #34: add invtype=sph in grott.ini [Generic] section (or use ginvtype=sph environmental variable e.g. for docker)
see issue #47: data will be processed automatically and send to MQTT, InfluxDB and PVOutput.org
see issue #79, pull request #91. Moe information can be found in the wiki: https://github.com/johanmeijer/grott/wiki/Extensions
Improved dynamic data processing and dynamic generation of output allowing:
- add new output (values) without changing code (using external layout definitions)
- rename keywords in MQTT JSON message and influxDB to own naming convention
- format the verbose output values
- Allow negative values for pvpowerout. New (always on) inverters can also use power.
- Bugfix inluxdb port error
see: https://github.com/johanmeijer/grott/wiki/Grott-advanced-(customize-behaviour)
Added new outout values to mqtt and influxDB to support 3 phase grid connection (actual information on voltage, current and power delivered), total active worktime (in 0.5 S) and energy generation per PV string (day and total)
Improve environmental processing for mqtt/influxDB/growatt ip and port definitions
Introduce possibility to add extensions for additional (personalized) processing.
,br.
see: https://github.com/johanmeijer/grott/wiki/Extensions
Direct output to inlfuxdb (v1 and v2)
see: https://github.com/johanmeijer/grott/wiki/InfluxDB-Support
Mulitiple inverter (multiple system id's) support in PVOutput.org
see: https://github.com/johanmeijer/grott/wiki/PVOutput.org-support
This file is deleted from the grott default directory to simply github installation (not overwrite your settings). It is advised to copy this file into the Grott default directory (and customise it) during first time installation
Limited .ini configuration needed (inverterid, encryption, offset and record layout is automaticially detected)
Specify pvoutput = True and apikey and systemid in .ini file to enable it.
2 docker containers are created ledidobe/grottrpi (specific old RPI with ARM32) and ledidobe/grott (generic one, tested on synology NAS and Ubuntu). See https://hub.docker.com/search?q=ledidobe&type=image. See issue 4 and 15 on how to use it (wiki will be updated soon)
with blockcmd = True specified in .ini (configure/reboot) commands from outside to the inverter are blocked. This protects the inverter from beeing controlled from the outside while data exchange with server.growatt.com for reporting is still active.
If date/time is available in the data (inserted by the inverter) this will be used. In this way buffered records will be sent with the original creation time (in the past). If date/time is not available in the data record the server time will be used (as it was originally). In the mqtt message the key buffered is added (yes/no) which indicates that the message is from the buffer (past) or actual.
In sniff mode (default and compatable with older Grott versions) IP sniffering technology is used (based on: https://github.com/buckyroberts/Python-Packet-Sniffer). In this mode the data needs to be "re-routed" using linux IP forwarding on the device Grott is running. In this mode Grott "sees" every IP package and when a Growatt TCP packages passes it will be processed and a MQTT will be sent if inverter status information is detected.
With the proxy mode Grott is listening on a IP port (default 5279), processes the data (sent MQTT message) and routes the original packet to the growatt website.
The proxy mode functionality can be enabled by:
- mode = proxy in the conf.ini file
- m proxy parameter during startup
Pro / Cons:
sniff mode
+ Data will also be routed to the growatt server if Grott is not active
- All TCP packages (also not growatt) need to be processed by Grott.
This is more resource (processor) intesive and can have a negative impact on the device performance.
- Configure IP forwarding can be complex if a lot of other network routing is configured (e.g. by Docker).
- Sudo rights necessary to allow network sniffering
proxy mode:
+ Simple configuration
+ Only Growatt IP records are being analysed and processed by Grott
+ Less resource intensive
+ No sudo rights needed
+ Blocking / Filtering of commands from the outside is possible
- If Grott is not running no data will be sent to the Growatt server
The adivse is to use the proxy mode. This mode is strategic and will be used for enhanced features like automatic protocol detection and command blocking filtering.
Sniff mode is not supported under Windows
In sniff mode it is necessary to run Grott with SUDO rights.
The following modules are needed the use Grott:
- grott.py
- grott.ini (available in examples direcory)
- grottconf.py
- grottdata.py
- grottproxy.py
- grottsniffer.py
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